Bishop Canevin Beats Peters Twp for First PIHL Penguins Cup Crown Since 1993

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, March 20, 2011 | 12:00 AM

At Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh Sunday evening, the Bishop Canevin Crusaders won their first Penguins Cup title in 18 years with a 5-2 win over the Peters Township Indians in the PIHL Class AA championship game.

In the first period the Crusaders had the better of play in the first five minutes out shooting the Indians 3-1. Both goalies had big saves as Peters Woody Shell, and Canevin's Zach Daley kept the game scoreless. Each team had a power play chance as well but defense ruled the early stages and no one would score until half way thru the first stanza.

At 7:11 Bishop Canevin got on the board first as Frank Vance scored after the defense poked checked the puck away from Matt Walsh, Vance trailing the play made it 1-0. Walsh assisted on the goal. It would stay that way until at 11:52 the Crusaders were swarming in the Indians zone. Patrick Large swung a pass back to the point, Marc Slomiany drove a shot to the net, and Freshman Garrett Godlewski tipped it in and it was 2-0 Bishop Canevin.

"It's important for a teams confidence to go up in a big game early," Bishop Canevin head coach Kevin Zielmanski said. The period ended with the Crusaders leading in shots 13-6 and outplaying the Indians.

Into the second period both teams again would go on the power play and yet again both teams defenses would shut the offense down. At 6:57 inside Canevin territory two Crusaders defenseman collided resulting in a two on none Indians break, Devan Groom scored assisted by Taylor Cox, and Paul Snyder to cut the lead to 2-1. Just :37 seconds later the Crusaders would go up by two goals again as Randy Unger scored assisted by Walsh and Richard McNulty. Shots in the second period were 10-8 Peters.

Going into the third period coach Zielmanski knew the game wasn't over. "I told my guys we trailed them in the first game of the year 3-1 after two, and their coach was reminding them of that."

Well, less than five minutes in the Crusaders scored on the power play on a goal by Michael Mannsman. He was assisted by Vance and McNulty to make it 4-1 Canevin. Both teams had power play chances mid way thru the period but the Indians failed while the Crusaders would go up 5-1 getting a goal from Walsh assisted by Peter Karney to make it 5-1. The scoring would end at 11:59 as the Indians scored. Benny Zalewski scored on assist from Taylor Cox and Evan Mitchel to make the final 5-2.

The celebrating began for the Crusaders as they improved to 19-4-0 and will move on to the State championships next weekend in Philadelphia, on Saturday March 26th at 1:30 at the Ice Line in West Chester PA versus the winner of the Council Rock South Central Bucks East winner.

When asked how he felt after the game after waiting 13 years to win a title coach Zielmanski said, "I feel relieved, we have a great group of kids and when you have desire, stick to a system and have a great goalie that's how you win."

Indians head coach Rick Tingle after the game outside the solemn Peters Township locker room said, "They took advantage of opportunities and we didn't, it was great to be a part of this tonight." Peter Township ends their season at 19-3-1.

Shots on goal:
Bishop Canevin : 13 – 8 – 3 = 21
Peters Township : 6 – 10 – 6 = 22

Third Period:
Bishop Canevin 9:30 Michael Mannsman ( Vance, McNulty) PPG BC 4-1
Bishop Canevin 10:09 Walsh ( Peter Kerney ) PPG BC 5-1
Peters Township 11:59 Benny Zalewski (Taylor Cox, Evan Mitchell) BC 5-2

Tags: Bishop Canevin